Tottenham’s lead man Harry Kane has been in the headlines this week, but not for his star performances on the pitch, but his physical well-being.
Many believe that the striker has simply played too much football over the past few seasons, and is now running on empty as the new Premier League campaign rolls on.
Despite this, Kane is enjoying his best ever start to a Premier League season, breaking his August hoodoo with goals against Fulham and Manchester United last month.
However, Kane’s general play and performances do seem a gear or two lower than fans have come to expect, with the main man often looking slightly laboured both on and off the ball.
Gary Neville said earlier this week that Kane looked as if he needed some rest away from the game, both physically and mentally.
The striker has taken on a lot this year, not only leading Tottenham to a top four finish, but also captaining his country to a semi-final in the World Cup, not to mention welcoming his second child into the world.
Pochettino has now weighed in on the debate: “He needs to provide the team with his best, but maybe in the circumstances we are like a team, or when he plays with England it’s maybe not the best conditions for a striker to give the best.
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“It’s not that I want to justify him, it’s only because the period during the season always change.
“The most thing here is the confidence and trust we have in him. There’s no doubt that he’s one of the best strikers or players in England and in Europe.
“No doubt with Harry but because Harry’s so big a player everyone expects him in every single action for him to do something different.
“That’s why the expectations and perspective are completely different to another player.
“It’s our fifth season at Tottenham and if someone knows him really well I think we do.
“We know Harry Kane very well in the last more than four years we work with him. We know that it’s not a situation that worries us.
“We are in a situation that is under control.”
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